No Waffles...
This looks like a spot in the Sugar Land, but it's really at the fun/funky end of Westheimer Blvd. in Houston. We arrived early enough that Belgian waffles and coffee would have been a treat...but not on this menu.
Mussels in Brussels
We did find mussels on the menu and that is another thing Belgium is known for. Lorrie was getting a bit of a mussel steam facial at this moment, but the photo doesn't capture it. I sampled one of Lorrie's mussels and was surprised at how tasty it was... since I'm not usually a fan. They were served with French fries and homemade mayonnaise, which I also sampled. Yum. FF&M could become addicting!
More food
I ordered Waterzooi de Poulet, which is a Flemish creamy chicken stew with carrots and celery. It was good, but I had to add salt which I rarely do. Shari's, Carbonade Falmande (beef stew with Chimay beer, onions and carrots) was really much more flavorful. We had to thank our waiter Manuel, for pushing that one.
Flemish...Flanders...Belgium...Dutch?
Ordering "Flemish" food made me ponder a few words. Lorrie and Shari both have art history backgrounds and I've been to Belgium, but we were making ourselves confused. We all knew of many Flemish painters...and I recalled a movie "Dog of Flanders" which takes place in Belgium and has something to do with Flemishness...which I'm sure is not a word. Flemish...Dutch? We put that discussion to rest, but I was later delighted to see a print of my favorite Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel displayed in the restroom!
Food and Talk
Manuel was happy to take our photo as we finished our food. And he was happy to leave us to ourselves as we talked for another hour at least!
Beer?
We arrived before noon, hungry for waffles. But by the time we were leaving it was the time of day many start drinking beer. Come to think of it, we had a family friend named Al, who used to order waffles and beer frequently... wonder if that's a Belgian thing?
We'll have to come back to sample this huge selection another day!
Heading out...
I spoke with Manuel and owner, Jeannine as they were getting ready to close between the lunch and dinner hours. (siesta?) Manuel was friendly, but I could sense Jeannine was not up for one of my "People Encounters". Hey, she's not from Belgium so I'm going to assume there was nothing interesting to learn from her anyway.
What I learned? Our dining conversation lead me to a 1 minute research task. I am now reminded that Flanders is an area, which includes the north part of Belgium. Flemish are the Dutch speaking inhabitants of Belgium. So I guess Flemish food must be from Flanders. I will sleep much better now.
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